That day, Su Li went to see the village chief and the two new schoolmasters.
The two schoolmasters were obviously learned scholars, disciples of Master Zhuge, who came to the village to teach under their teacher's name. Their knowledge and character were top-notch, far superior to the likes of Director Zhang of Qingmiao Academy, who wasn’t even worthy to tie their shoes.
The village chief was deeply grateful, especially upon learning that these two schoolmasters came because of Su Li’s connections, he held Su Li in the highest respect.
The whole village knew that Su Li had brought two highly knowledgeable teachers to the village school. Everyone was grateful to Su Li and full of hope for the future, wishing their descendants could study well under these teachers and achieve great success.
Su Li held a banquet at home to warmly entertain the two schoolmasters. After happily sending them off and just returning indoors, she heard the young servant Qingmu rush in anxiously, saying, "Madam, a carriage has arrived outside. It’s extremely luxurious and is stopped right at our courtyard gate!"
"Oh?" Su Li responded, wondering which noble had come—was it Minister Gu? Master Zhuge? Or Young Master Shen Yan, or perhaps a business partner of Li Yanhao?
Su Li went to take a look without much thought, just like usual. She saw the carriage—extremely beautiful and luxurious, surrounded by eight tall guards on horseback, each wearing a sword.
At that moment, a stunning young girl about Su Li’s age jumped down from the carriage.
Her expression was arrogant and haughty, with a nose held high. She sized up Su Li, who came out of the courtyard dressed plainly, and immediately looked down on her, saying, "You village girl, quickly have your master come out to personally greet me!"
Su Li sized up the pretty girl and thought to herself, where did this rude girl come from, causing trouble at her doorstep?
Su Li looked at the girl and said, "I am the master of this house. Who are you?"
The young girl let out a mocking laugh as if she’d heard an absurd joke, clutching her stomach and bending over with laughter. She pointed at Su Li and said, "You country bumpkin is the master? Oh, it really is the countryside—poor and unsophisticated, can’t afford nice clothes, looks so rustic, even worse than a maid."
Her laughter was exaggerated and shameless. Bai Lu happened to come out, heard her mocking Su Li, and angrily said, "What little shameless brat are you, causing trouble at my house’s door!"
The young girl immediately glared angrily and cursed, "Who do you think you are? How dare you insult me! Do you know who I am?"
Bai Lu put her hands on her hips, shielding Su Li behind her, glaring fiercely and refusing to back down: "I don’t care who you are. If you dare insult my madam, I’ll insult you back! Shameless! Running up to someone’s door to curse, thinking you’re so noble? Even the rudest shrews in our village wouldn’t cause such a scene at someone’s doorstep!"
"You—bitch!" Unexpectedly, the young girl was extremely spoiled. After being scolded by Bai Lu a few times, she suddenly rushed forward and slapped Bai Lu's face without warning.
Bai Lu was caught off guard. Who would have thought this young girl was so vicious, striking to hurt immediately? She instantly covered her face, which swelled up on one side.
Seeing Bai Lu being hit, Su Li was furious and immediately slapped the young girl’s face in return. But mid-air, a coquettish female voice rang out from the carriage: "Oh, a quarrel among servants. You, the master, striking out—aren’t you afraid of losing face? Tsk, I forgot, you’re no proper master, just a nouveau riche. A few years ago you were still scraping a living from the soil, even worse than my household’s servants. No status, so naturally no fear of losing face."
"Your Highness?"
Su Li’s expression immediately darkened.